Chapter 125: The Imperial Palace is Like This

  To be honest, sending gifts before the New Year is also a troublesome thing. Someone said it well: you work hard to send them over, but they may not even remember you; however, if you don't send any, others will definitely remember you.

  He and Hu Zhi-chao worked together, but it still took them several days to complete the circuit in the county. Later, he gritted his teeth and went to the city to give gifts to Yan Chu-ting, Wei Da-chao, and Xu Ying-jie. After hesitating for half a day, he finally didn't go to Li Zhe-xuan's place.

  Xu Jingjie met him in the office and hesitated for a moment before saying: "Siyuan, I heard about what happened in your county. You did a good job. At this time, you should focus on stabilizing the team and uniting comrades. Unlike some people who are afraid that the world is not chaotic, running around in the city every day, they don't have any collective concept at all."

  Liu Siyuan was taken aback for a moment, then carefully asked: "What does Director Xu mean?"

  Xu Jingjie shook his head and said, "Forget it, let's not talk about this. However, no matter what, Pan Shao Huang's crimes must be severely punished, there is no doubt about that, the municipal party committee leaders are also unanimous on this point."

  Although she didn't say it explicitly, Liu Siyuan vaguely guessed that it was Zhao Yingfeng, who had been staying in the city for a long time with an attitude of wanting to put Lao Fan to death.

  There is also a rumor that Li Zhexuan, the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee, once emphasized at a meeting that we must resolutely prevent individual cadres from seeking rent-seeking behavior, and at the same time require all cadres to strengthen their education for their children and next generation. This remark tacitly refers to whom everyone understands in their hearts.

  After all, he stood up for reason, and it's said that Secretary Zhang Mingduan was also somewhat passive. Whether or not to give up protecting Fan Yuguo would be a test of his wisdom.

  But anyway, these have nothing to do with Liu Siyuan for the time being, just as he himself said, the wisest thing to do at this moment is to hide behind and watch the show.

  After being busy for many days in a row, I finally got everything ready for the New Year's celebration. Before I knew it, another Spring Festival had arrived.

  What surprised him the most was that the government of Hanjiang City hadn't forgotten about him, a nominal staff member, and even sent a large package of New Year's goods via express delivery, with the bonus in his card not missing a single cent.

  At the same time, as a leading cadre of Ziwai City, he also received bonuses and New Year's goods from the Ziwai Municipal Party Committee. As a Standing Committee member of Cheng'en County Party Committee, he got a substantial bonus and New Year's goods. As the Party Secretary, Beixi Town would not forget him... Moreover, most of the county bureau heads did not take him down as a Standing Committee member, so the New Year's goods piled up like a small mountain. Fortunately, Ma Feng had good eyesight and arranged for a small truck to send them back to his hometown, North Mountain County, through some channel. Looking at the full load of New Year's goods in the truck left him speechless for a while.

  He thought he could start the new year smoothly, but then he received a call from Zheng Gaofeng, who angrily told him that Fan Shaohuang had been "taken away" by the Municipal Public Security Bureau.

  Liu Siyuan thought for a moment and it wasn't hard to guess that it was definitely Fan Yugun's handwriting. Leaving someone at the county public security bureau was too dangerous, Zheng Gaofeng was a director no matter how bad he mixed, and it was hard to guarantee that Director Zheng wouldn't take advantage of his power to bully him severely.

  Just then, I heard Zheng Gaofeng complaining on the phone: "Damn it, being the director of the Public Security Bureau is too suffocating. Even if Lao Fan didn't snatch people, I wouldn't be able to handle that stinky little kid. The two deputy directors in the bureau are like a pair of stubborn mules, and I couldn't even get close to that stinky little kid alone. It's infuriating me! If only I had rushed in with you that day and taken care of him directly."

  Liu Siyuan could only comfort him, saying: "Zheng Ge, as the saying goes, a gentleman takes revenge ten years later. Fan Shaohuang committed such a serious crime and the evidence is solid. Even if Old Fan has great power, he can't completely exonerate him. That kind of rich kid will be worn out in prison, no need for you to take care of him."

  Zheng Gaofeng thought for a moment and his mood improved slightly. He then changed the subject, saying: "I'm telling you, Simiao, you're not very considerate. Last time with the personnel issue, you didn't take my side, that's fine. But this time, we finally have a chance to get rid of Old Huan, and you're speaking up for him? Won't he promise you some benefits again? And my old man scolded me too, no matter what, I'm not allowed to speak at the Standing Committee meeting. I was counting on you."

  Liu Siyuan had also anticipated that he would bring it up sooner or later, and was prepared. He said: "Zheng Ge, listen to my analysis. Don't mention anything else, but in the county committee, who has a grudge against Old Hua besides you? It's me! I've beaten Hua Shaohuang twice, and this time I even rushed in and caught him myself. Do you think Old Hua would let me off easily? He wouldn't spare my life if he could. And would Secretary Zheng harm you? There must be a reason why he didn't let you speak."

  Zheng Gaofeng listened and felt that it seemed reasonable too, so he asked strangely: "Then why are you still speaking for Old Huan?"

  Liu Siyuan smiled and said, "Secretary Zheng is right. Once you spoke that day, it would be troublesome. Brother Zheng doesn't know, we're doing this to protect you and me. What the municipal party committee leaders dislike most are comrades who don't maintain team unity."

  Zheng Gaofeng somewhat discontentedly said: "Is it just this cheap for Fan Yugun?"

  Liu Siyuan patiently explained, "It won't be cheap for him, Zheng Ge, think carefully, even if you and I don't make a sound, Old Hua can't get away with it anyway. Someone has already taken the lead, and even if the kidnapping of Shen Yiyang is not directly related to him, anyone with discerning eyes can see that Fan Shaohuang's arrogance online must be relying on his position as county party secretary, so he can't escape responsibility."

  Zheng Gaofeng listened and asked strangely: "Then what are you worried about?"

  Liu Siyuan said, "I just said that no matter what, he can't escape the relationship. What we do is already clear. Instead of rushing forward, it's better to hide behind and watch a good show. As the saying goes, 'the bird that sticks its head out gets shot.' My concerns are: first, I'm afraid that no matter what, Old Hua has been operating in Ziwai City for many years, and everyone knows that our city committee secretary Zhang is his backer. It's not easy to bring him down. If we jump too high, we might hurt the enemy but also suffer ourselves, which would be meaningless. Second, I'm afraid that the municipal leaders don't like it when comrades don't work seriously every day and instead go to the city committee to tattle."

  Zheng Gaofeng finally understood after half a day of deliberation: "Damn, I kind of get it now. You're using Zhao Secretary as a gun to achieve your own goals while hiding behind and pretending to be a good person to reap the benefits. Tian Fang said you're right, this guy is indeed born to be an official. Zheng Ge, I have to admit that I'm not as capable as him. However, since Fan Shaohuang has messed with my woman, I must settle this account no matter what. If I don't get revenge, where will I put my face in the future?"

  Liu Siyuan thought about it and felt that what he said also made sense, so he could only say: "Zheng Ge, isn't your old man also working on the political and legal front line? Does he have any connections in the municipal bureau? I have an idea. Since Lao Huan has already brought people to the municipal bureau, he might actually relax his vigilance because of this. If Zheng Ge can get inside through some special channel, hehe, wouldn't that be a chance to take revenge?"

  Zheng Gaofeng burst out laughing and said: "You're still a bad kid, but I like it, haha!"

  Liu Siyuan saw his mood improve and said: "Zheng Ge, you should also be more open-minded about this matter..."

  "Relax, are you afraid I'll go and kill myself? It's just a woman. Replace her with another one, it's just a bit of a loss of face, but if it can be used to disgust Old Huan, then it's worth it."

  Liu Siyuan couldn't help but feel a chill at this person's ruthlessness, and then he heard him sigh: "What a pity, I heard those few bastards all played three sandwiches with her, and I haven't even had the chance to play with her like that. They even got to take the lead in the back door."

  He hung up the phone with Zheng Gaofeng, and Liu Siyuan was also speechless for a while. As a result, he had a deeper understanding of these officials, who were all born with a lack of emotions and self-centeredness. At the same time, he felt sorry for Shen Yiyang, but thinking that this was the risk she had to take as a woman choosing to take the official path, he let it go. The only thing he didn't know was what her next step would be, continuing to stay in Cheng'en County was impossible now.

  After thinking for a while, he calmed down his emotions, forced out some smiles, and finally set foot on the road back home.